Nandan leaves Hyundai

Hyundai Motorsport team principal Michel Nandan has left the squad and will not lead its assault on the WRC in 2019.

The Korean manufacturer confirmed that its customer racing manager, Andrea Adamo (below), will step up to the position of team director and will be responsible for the running of its WRC programme with immediate effect.

Nandan was chosen to mastermind Hyundai's return to the WRC in January 2013 and the i20 has gone on to record ten top-flight victories since its WRC debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2014.

However, the team's inability to win the manufacturers' or drivers' titles during the last five seasons, despite leading both for much of the 2017 and 2018 campaigns, has prompted Hyundai to make a change to its senior management team and confirm Nandan's departure.

A team statement said: "Hyundai Motorsport extends its sincerest thanks to Michel for his significant contribution to the team’s growth and development over the past six years, and wishes him all the best for the future."